National Museum To Hold Snakes Exhibition

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- The National Museum will organise a Snake Exhibition, showcasing 100 venomous and non-venomous snakes, for a month beginning Sept 4. Its director-general, Datuk Ibrahim Ismail said the exhibition would be held in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia's Poisons Centre and Institute of Medical Research Malaysia with the aim of giving the public the opportunity to learn more about the reptile.Themed "Snakes Versus Snakes", he said a total of 60 venomous snakes would be displayed together with 40 non-venomous snakes for the exhibition.

"We are confident that the visitors would be amused, while improving their knowledge about the predators," he told Bernama here. Other exhibits to be showcased are seven preserved venomous sea snakes, including Beaked Sea Snake (Enhydrina Schistosa) and Ornate Reef Sea Snake (Hydrophis ornatos) from the Indian Ocean, Kloss' Sea Snake (Hydrophis klossi) from Indo-West Pacific, Jerdon's Sea Snake (Kerilia jerdoni) from Central Indo-Pacific to India, Banded Sea Snake (Laticauda colubrina) from coast of Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, West Malaysia dan Singapore to Indonesia and Anomalous Sea Snake (Thalassophis anomalus) from the South China Sea. Ibrahim said apart from live and preserved snakes, skeletons of the local phytons would also be displayed during the exhibition.

"Besides, visitors can also watch snake shows which will be held every weekend throughout the month-long exhibition," he added. Meanwhile, the museum is also holding an exhibition on unsung heroes of the country beginning Tuesday. Ibrahim said 70 personalities would be featured including from Sabah and Sarawak and they included names like Datuk Siti Rahmah Kassim, who raised funds for the country's independence delegation's talks in London and Datuk Seri Lau Pak Khuan, MCA's founder and who played an instrumental role in getting the Chinese community's backing for Malaysia to gain independence. A discourse on their's and other unsung heroes exploits will also be held on Aug 27. It is scheduled to be opened by Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. Besides these, the museum is also offering a stay in programme on Aug 27 and 28 and is limited to 100 persons maximum. Details can be obtained at www2.jmm.gov.my.